THE Covid-19 weekly infection rate for Maldon district has risen to 69.3 per 100,00 people in the latest figures released by the county's public health chiefs.

The new figure is for the seven days to last Thursday (22 October) and compares to 49.3 per 100,000 for the week before that (ending on Thursday, 15 October).

The rate of infection in the Maldon district is currently the second lowest in the county, with the Braintree district at 54.4 per 100,000. The highest rates are for Brentwood with 154.5 per 100,000 and Castle Point at 150.4.

The latest Essex-wide weekly infection rate is now at 107.16 and there has been a sharp increase in Covid-related hospital admissions in the county area, with 191 in-patients as of Tuesday, 27 October – up nearly 55 per cent in a week.

Essex County Council (ECC) now releases detailed new statistics every Thursday afternoon showing the confirmed infection rate for the seven days up to the previous Thursday and compared to the previous seven days before that. The reporting gap is because figures can take several days to be confirmed as test results come back – so giving figures from the week before gives a reliable and clear picture.

ECC's public health director, Dr Mike Gogarty, gives an update in the video included with this article and explains the significance of the new figures, as well as the latest advice on keeping infection rates down.